no Wild Life in Wales 



Amongst other moths noticed, were single specimens of 

 Plusia festuctf) Acronycta menyanthidis y and Agrotis ashworthii, 

 the latter from the hill west of Drws-y-nant. Caterpillars of 

 Poplar, and Eyed Hawks, Drinkers, Oak-Eggers, and Puss 

 Moths, were frequent ; those of the Kitten (Dicranura 

 furcula], Notodonta camelina, N. dictea, N. dromedarius, and 

 N. ziczac, rather scarce, but generally to be found on the 

 stunted sallow and birch bushes, if carefully looked for. Of 

 these the Coxcomb, and Iron Prominents, generally prefer 

 oak, and alder, respectively ; but in Merionethshire, both 

 happened to be most often found on birch. The Ziczac 

 caterpillars were all of the pale form, often almost white 

 on the upper surface, sometimes with dashes of vivid yellow 

 on the lateral region. They are then amongst the most 

 attractive of larvae, and as most of my caterpillar-hunting 

 was done for the benefit of youthful entomologists, they 

 were always enthusiastically welcomed. A single larva of 

 the Nut-tree Tussock (Demas coryli) was also a special 

 prize ; the handsome yellow and brown striped Hadena pisi 

 was numerous on sallow, scabious, and other low plants. 



Of moths attracted to the light of my window, one of the 

 most obtrusive was the Old Lady (Mania maura\ of which 

 three or four would sometimes enter the room together. 

 By the side of the river it was numerous, in the evenings, 

 some very pretty, distinctly banded, varieties being amongst 

 those caught. Euplexia lucipara, Phlogophora meticulosa, and 

 Gonoptera libatrix, also came frequently to the light. Agrotis 

 lucernea was numerous on Aran, commonly flying in the 

 afternoon sun, though it is chiefly a night insect. I saw 

 several newly emerged specimens, at the end of June, on 

 tufts of viviparous Festuca ovina growing on the cliffs, near 

 the top of the hill. Elsewhere I have taken the larvae at 

 the roots of this grass, in similar situations, on the face of 

 igneous crags ; it being easy to collect a number of them, 

 in such places, by simply pulling up and examining prominent, 

 and isolated, tufts of the plant. They are full fed towards 

 the end of April, and later the chrysalides may be found 

 spun up in the same places, or amongst lichen in convenient 

 niches of the rock. Or, if the grass be growing among 



